Lola Méndez

Asia has some of the most diverse geography in the world, which makes it home to some of the best hikes on Earth. The continent has the highest and the lowest points on the planet — the legendary Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world at nearly 9,000 meters, and the Dead Sea bordering Palestine and Jordan at 430 meters below sea level. And you can hike in both! You don’t have to be a professional hiker to enjoy Asia’s trails. Many less strenuous routes with stunning scenery can be enjoyed in a few hours. In Asia, you can trek to the peaks of colossal mountains covered in snow, to ancient Buddhist shrines, to vantage points over pristine beaches, and so much more. These are the best hikes in Asia. RECOMMENDED: Stunning islands in Asia you need to visit at least once and The absolute best hotels in Asia right now Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Asia newsletter for the best travel inspiration, straight to your inbox.  

Southeast Asia is a magnet for backpackers on a shoestring budget. With under £40 a day, SEA travellers aren’t limited to dodgy hotels or free walking tours – you can eat well, sleep comfortably, and explore properly. Of course, costs swing across the region, with Timor-Leste and Singapore being significantly more expensive than Vietnam and Thailand. Time Out Contributor Lola Méndez has been travelling throughout SEA for five years and shares a look into her budget-friendly travel spending in the region. RECOMMENDED: Digital nomad visas: countries in Asia where you can live and work remotely and The best cities in Asia to see gorgeous street art

Many of Asia’s airlines continuously receive awards for being some of the best airlines in the world. From luxury liners with top-notch service to budget airlines that sweep you off to Asia’s most beautiful locales. Many of these Asian airlines are part of the oneworld Alliance or the Star Alliance making it easy to book with mileage partners and rack up points and miles. RECOMMENDED: Stunning islands in Asia you need to visit at least once and The absolute best hotels in Asia right now

Whether you can't quite touch your toes or can easily manoeuvre your body into Svarga Dvijasana, aka the bird of paradise posture, there’s a yoga retreat in Asia to fit your experience level. After all, this is where yoga was born – it can easily be traced back over 5,000 years to Northern India. From pranayama breathing exercises to asana postures, these are where newbies and experienced practitioners alike can enjoy the best yoga retreats in the region. RECOMMENDED: The best wellness resorts and retreats in Asia and The most beautiful trail runs in Asia, according to a marathon runner

Travel in itself can be good for the mind and soul, but for some serious pampering, you can always take things up a notch at Asia's many wellness-led resorts and retreats. These getaways have therapies and programmes as core offerings to assist in healing, with many combining local healing modalities with Western technological advancements in medicine. Truly, the best of both worlds. Whether you’re looking to detox, heal a specific ailment, or improve your overall health, these are the best wellness resorts and retreats in Asia. RECOMMENDED: The best wildlife destinations in Asia and The best food tours in Asia  

HBO's The White Lotus is back with a bang for season 3, with this season’s motley crew of ultra-rich travellers setting up camp in a luxury wellness resort on Thailand's second-largest island, Koh Samui. The show, culminating with the season finale on April 6, has inspired an uptick in travellers interested in visiting the island this year – but how accurately does it portray life on Koh Samui?  I’ve been based in Thailand on and off for a decade and have spent several months in Koh Samui over the years. It's been interesting seeing familiar scenes of Thailand's incredible natural beauty, top-notch hospitality, delicious food, and healing modalities play out on the screen – despite the characters being delusional, unaware and incredibly out-of-touch, as is standard for The White Lotus. Here's what the show captures well and what's totally inaccurate. This post contains spoilers for ‘The White Lotus’ season 3. The island's wildlife and natural beauty Lush jungles, spectacular beaches, boats sailing through glassy waters… wild monkeys? While monkeys feature prominently in the show, there actually aren’t any wild monkeys living in the jungle on Koh Samui (but there are monitor lizards). Unfortunately, there are snake farms on the island where cobras are forced to perform for tourists – though it’s doubtful it’d be so easy to let them loose as Rick does in episode 3. Pong-pong trees are commonly used in landscaping at luxury resorts in Koh Samui, and their seeds are indeed poison

Asia offers secluded islands, mirrored waters, and year-round sun – all the ingredients for a perfect scuba dive. It's really no wonder that this continent is home to some of the best scuba diving in the world. We're talking incredible wreck dives, vibrant and teeming coral reefs, and depending on the season, pelagics like sharks, whales, and manta rays. So, dive in with us to some of the most prestigious destinations of the underwater world.  READ MORE: The most incredible road trips in Asia and One month in Southeast Asia: The ultimate itinerary    

The best way to discover which local dishes you like and dislike is by joining a local food tour while visiting destinations across Asia. By sampling local cuisine you can quickly find new favourite foods and then ask your guide for suggestions for the best place to enjoy them. A locally-led food tour will help you avoid overpriced and underwhelming tourist trap restaurants and instead dive deep into the local culinary culture. You’ll probably get to try some hidden gems. Time Out’s writers and editors—including Asia contributor Lola Méndez who has eaten her way through vegan delicacies across the continent—have picked our favourite food tours in Southeast and East Asia for savouring local flavours. RECOMMENDED: The most fascinating historical tours in Asia and The best train journeys in Asia

Get to know a slice of Asia's past by booking history tours as you travel around the continent. You can learn about ancient water cleansing rituals in Bali, the once-thriving craft industry in Singapore, and so much more. Time Out's writers and editors – including Asia contributor Lola Méndez, who has been on historical tours throughout Southeast and East Asia – have picked our favourite historical tours. READ MORE: The best museums in Asia and The most stunning architectural gems in Asia

The best way to watch the sunset in Asia’s sprawling cities is with a drink at the best rooftop bars in the region. Sip on innovative cocktails while taking in panoramic vistas of skyscrapers and historic sites. Time Out’s writers and editors—including Asia contributor Lola Méndez who has enjoyed a rooftop libation or two everywhere from Saigon to Tokyo—have picked our favourite rooftop bars in Southeast and East Asia. Here are the best rooftop bars in Asia with views of iconic skylines.RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Hong Kong and The best restaurants in Singapore

Located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, Asia is notorious for having some of the best beaches in the world. Much of Southeast Asia is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which created many of the islands in the region. More diverse aquatic life can be found in Asia than in other areas of the planet, making it a snorkelling and diving hotspot. Beautiful beaches can be found beyond Southeast Asia, from Japan to India too. You’ll find picturesque white sand beaches with aquamarine waters in Asia — many of which boast vibrant marine life and others that serve as an idyllic city escape. READ MORE: The most spectacular places to visit in Asia and The most incredible hikes Asia has to offer Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Asia newsletter for the best travel inspiration, straight to your inbox.  

Asia is a continent of many islands, with Southeast Asia alone home to over 20,000 islands. As you can imagine, there’s breathtaking diversity across these slices of paradise: on the continent's largest island, Borneo, you can see wild orangutans; in Bali you can immerse yourself in Hindu spirituality; and in Okinawa, you can get a taste of what it’s like to live past 100. You could visit them all if you had the time, but you don’t have to – not when we’ve narrowed it down to seven of the absolute best islands to visit in Asia, each boasting epic beaches and fascinating culture.  RECOMMENDED: The most spectacular places to visit in Asia and The absolute best beaches in Asia Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Asia newsletter for the best travel inspiration, straight to your inbox.  

The view The rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square is home to the Shibuya Sky observation deck. At 230 metres above ground, The Roof bar has breathtaking 360-degree views of Japan’s capital city. Time Out Tokyo’s Associate Editor Kaila Imada says the bar has vistas of all of Tokyo’s major landmarks, such as Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree, and on a clear day, Mt Fuji in the distance. Visit ahead of sunset to see the view in daylight and at twilight.The drinks Tickets to The Roof include drink packages including champagne, a bottled whiskey cocktail, or an IPA that’s a collaboration with a local brewery, Y.Y.G Brewery. The bar and lounge is only open 8 months a year. Make a reservation to visit before December 25, 2024.